Written Answers Nos. 672-686
672. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the childcare providers in counties Monaghan and Cavan that have informed his Department or associated agency of any reduction in services, including reduction of hours or numbers serviced, since 1 January 2023; the service affected in each instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54655/23]
View answerMy Department is preparing a response and will provide the information sought shortly.
673. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 22 November 2023, if his Department has in place a conflict of interest policy for organisations funded or part funded by his Department; and, if not, if he intends to introduce such a policy. [54680/23]
View answerI wish to advise that Voluntary and Public Service Organisations funded or part-funded by the Department are subject either to the provisions of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies or the Charities Governance Code. Both of these Codes set out how these organisations address conflicts of interest.
Links to these Codes are provided below.
• Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies
• Charities-Governance-Code
It is worth noting that bespoke governance arrangement cover the Department’s funding to and service provision by Pobal.
Pobal is both a not for profit company, limited by guarantee, and a registered charity, which acts as an intermediary for the Government in the delivery and administration of a range of programmes and social supports. Its parent Department is the Department of Rural and Community Development (RCD) and the Minister for RCD is its single shareholder. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth uses the services of Pobal to operate and support a range of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) schemes and initiatives. These services occur under a multi-level governance framework, operated in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
Pobal’s Conflict of Interest policy is published on its website and may be accessed www.pobal.ie/app/uploads/2022/11/Board-Code-of-Conduct.pdf
Finally, Special EU Programmes Body, a North-South Body coming under the aegis of DPENDPR, receives funding from this Department in respect of certain cross-border youth programmes. SEUPB’s Annual Report notes that it has a Conflict of Interest policy in place.
674. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the inclusion of a grounds of discrimination based on socioeconomic status being added to the Equality Acts; the timeline for the introduction of such a ground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54683/23]
View answerMy Department is currently reviewing the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015). This review includes the 2020 Programme for Government commitment to examine the introduction of a new ground based on disadvantaged socio-economic status.
In July of this year I published a report on submissions to a public consultation on this Review. This report is available at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/cafb4-minister-ogorman-publishes-report-on-the-submissions-to-the-public-consultation-on-the-review-of-the-equality-acts/. Submissions were invited on a range of issues, including the scope of the current equality grounds, and whether new grounds should be added, such as the ground of socio-economic discrimination.
My officials are now finalising policy and legislative proposals and I plan to bring them to Government in the new year. As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government commits the Government to examining the introduction of a new discrimination ground of disadvantaged socio-economic status and this is currently being examined as part of the process of developing legislative proposals.
675. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full year, first year and total funding budget of the Child Law Project. [54701/23]
View answerPlease find below in tabular form the funding budget of the Child Care Law Reporting Project by year since the beginning of the current contract, which will operate for a three-year period from 1st November 2021 to 31st October 2024:
|
Annual expenditure |
|
|
Year 1 (1st Nov 2021 – 31st Oct 2022) |
€193,545 |
|
Year 2 (1st Nov 2022 – 31st Oct 2023) |
€193,545 |
|
Year 3 (1st Nov 2023 – 31st Oct 2024) |
€193,545 |
|
Initial setup outlay |
€7,500 |
|
Wind-up costs |
€10,000 |
|
Total budget |
€598,135 |
676. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measures are being proposed to remove the significant administrative delays with respect to available sites and premises that are ready to provide IPAS accommodation but are waiting for final fire officer sign offs and so on; if private fire safety specialist firms can be contracted to sign off such sites in order to reduce the back log and pressure on local fire officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54703/23]
View answer677. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will seek confirmation from IPAS, the total number of beds nationwide that have been offered to IPAS as ready with certification by a competent person in place, but have yet to be taken up by persons seeking international protection and are awaiting a further inspection and sign off by the fire officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54704/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 676 and 677 together.
Department officials are working intensively to bring more bed spaces into use, and since January 2022 have brought over 10,000 bed spaces into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking International Protection (IP).
With all new properties contracted by the Department to provide accommodation for IP applicants, the provider is required to provide detailed information, including a certificate of compliance by a competent expert, in relation to adherence to relevant regulations and suitability for use, including valid fire certification. The Department carefully appraises each property before contracts are issued and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections.
The Local Authority have a regulatory role in relation to properties being brought on stream to verify that they meet the required building, planning and fire safety regulations. Once all documentation is received, the Department continues to engage with the appropriate fire certification authorities to ensure fire certification is up to date and once evidence of sign-off is received from the relevant authorities and provided to the Department, a contract is signed for the use of the property. The timeline on delivery of appropriate certification is a matter entirely for the relevant authorities.
There are currently 7 properties with a capacity of 503 beds that have been offered as 'ready for use' and certified by a competent person, which require sign-off by the relevant fire authorities.
678. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost to establish a steering group to consult on a children-in-care system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54721/23]
View answerFollowing clarification with the Deputy, no further information is available to respond to the question posed. If the Deputy wishes to resubmit the question or write to me, I will endeavour to respond.
679. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 14 November 2023, the reason his Department was unable to provide the name of the management company or responsible people contracted to provide services at Kilbride Army Camp; whether he is now in a position to provide that information; and, if he is not, to explain who IPAS officials deal with when they visit the camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54738/23]
View answer680. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline, regarding Kilbride Army Camp in Wicklow, who is responsible for the organisation of transport to and from the camp; to provide contact details for a relevant person in his Department who may be contacted regarding transport services for the 120 residents; whether funding will be made available to improve the transport facilities at the camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54739/23]
View answer681. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report, regarding the visit by IPAS customer services and resident welfare teams to Kilbride on 7 November 2023, on the specific conclusions the teams reached about conditions at the camp and what steps will be taken to improve same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54740/23]
View answer682. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what arrangements are in place to ensure the right to association and to have visitors at Kilbride International Protection Centre, given it is an important element of mental well-being; if he will communicate this to all International Protection Centres and ensure these rights are upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54741/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 679 to 682, inclusive, together.
Contractual arrangements and discussions on services in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres are deemed confidential and commercially sensitive. My Department can confirm that IPAS officials deal directly with Centre Management when an inspection takes place or resident welfare clinic is conducted.
The IPAS Customer Service team has been engaging with residents on a regular basis in relation to issues raised and to continuously communicate with them in relation to the ongoing accommodation crisis.
As mentioned, a joint clinic with the Resident Welfare Team was conducted on 7th November 2023 and a further Customer Service clinic was held on 23rd November 2023. The Customer Service team have committed to conduct another clinic before the end of 2023 and will continue to attend the centre as often as practicable.
The IPAS Centre Management Team has been actively engaging with the service provider in relation to the issues raised at welfare clinics in order to improve the overall level of service and accommodation being provided to our residents in Kilbride.
This includes ensuring transport is in place to and from an accommodation centre with a full coach service provided at Kilbride Army Camp to facilitate resident’s engagement in the labour market and to access to their local community.
This bus service is scheduled between Monday and Friday, departs at 8:00am from Kilbride to Tallaght, and returns at 6:00pm. A weekend service was trialled earlier this year, however, due to limited uptake from residents, this was subsequently stopped. IPPS is currently engaging with the service provider to explore options for further increasing the bus service.
The Department is also cognisant that the ability to meet peers or relatives is an important aspect of personal well-being for residents in IPAS Centres, and this is facilitated as much as possible. The Department will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the well being of those IPs resident at Kilbride Army Camp.
683. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a detailed description of the vetting process and qualification requirements for staff working in special emergency accommodation for children in care; if he will clarify whether each company has a person in charge; and the welfare reporting mechanism that are in place in these companies. [54763/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
684. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to list the details of the 37 properties purchased by his Department to house IPAS applicants; the type of property; the size of property; the county within which each property is located; the cost of each property and the former use of each property; whether the properties were purchased on the open market or through private deals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54768/23]
View answerThe overall cost of the thirty-seven properties purchased to date is €9.2m. Due to commercially sensitivities it would not be possible to provide the exact cost of each property.
|
Type of Property |
Number |
|
One Bed Apartment |
1 |
|
Two Bed Apartment |
5 |
|
Two Bed House |
4 |
|
Three Bed House |
20 |
|
Four Bed House |
5 |
|
10 Bed |
1 |
|
12 Bed |
1 |
|
Total |
37 |
The properties are located across 12 counties (Clare 1, Cork 5, Dublin 10, Kerry 1, Limerick 2, Louth 3, Mayo 4, Meath 2, Offaly 1, Tipperary 2, Waterford 1, Wexford 5).
All properties were purchased on the open market and in all cases before proceeding with the purchase of a property we ensured they were no sitting tenants or if we were competing against first time buyers.
685. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons currently in Direct Provision in Ireland; and the number who are children. [54774/23]
View answerAs of 3 December 2023, there are a total of 25,876 people accommodated by the State in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation, 5,590 of whom are children.
IPAS accommodates International Protection (IP) applicants in IPAS centres, Emergency centres, the National Reception Centre, and tented accommodation. In face of the significant shortfall in available accommodation, the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) has contracted a significant amount of private accommodation of various configurations
Ireland is currently accommodating approximately 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes over 74,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and, as above, nearly 26,000 IP applicants currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.
686. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times his Department has received reports of arson or attacks on Direct Provision centres by protesters in each of the past three years and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54775/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be beware, properties currently in use by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) have been damaged in protests including in Dublin during the recent unrest on 23 November 2023.
This and other incidents of damage are a matter for An Garda Síochána and the Department is precluded from commenting or providing detailed information as it may prejudice any consequent investigations or court cases.
